I think Valentine’s day has got to be the biggest holiday of extremes. I’m sure if I asked 50 strangers what they think of it I would get some of the most impassioned defenses for the holiday or heated arguments against it. It’s a day about LOVE and that means something different for everybody. It can be a celebration of finding that special someone with dinner and flowers, or it can be a reminder of loneliness that hits a little harder with the barrage of “finding love is true happiness” messages the day brings. I usually seem to find myself in-between on Valentine’s Day. I am single and can feel that loneliness creeping up on me, but I am happy for those who do have that special someone to celebrate love with. At least this year I have a new Caroline Polachek album to mark the day.
My usual Valentines Day tradition if I’m single that year is to listen to the Magnetic Fields’ “69 Love Songs” album. Few albums encapsulates the good and the bad of being in love quite like the album and bonus that it takes up a lot of time to really dive into it. However, I can see Desire, I Want To Turn Into You taking over that tradition.
Someone asked me recently why I love watching movies so much. I didn’t have a good answer then but today I would have said because they provide a good distraction. For that blissful almost two hours the only problems I have to think about are the ones I see on the screen. Sure the characters have their problems but they’re manufactured and don’t touch upon my very real world problems that I will have to get back to when the credits begin. Music works a lot in the same way for me. At least for an hour (or in this case 45 minutes) I don’t have to focus on what I NEED to get done this week.
What I’m trying to say is while I’m not currently in love, hearing Caroline Polacheck sing about it is at least a worthy substitute. I’ve been a huge fan of Polacheck since her Chairlift indie-band days (Moth is a must-listen) and while Pang, her last solo album, didn’t quite grab me I appreciated the main singles from it. For some reason Desire, I Want To Turn Into You really hits me harder. Maybe it’s the fearlessness of the record. I appreciate its heart on its sleeve honesty about how great it is to be in love. DESIRE, I WANT TO TURN INTO YOU. Okay, sounds cool.
It also helps that the album starts with its best track “Welcome to My Island.” That joy of sharing so much about yourself with someone else so they slowly see everything that makes you special, flaws and all. It’s dangerous but with the right person it’s the best feeling in the world and this song actually captures that.
What I also love about this album is all the different eras of music that influence it. You’ve got the late 90s early 2000s Latin pop song with “Sunset.” You’ve also got “Pretty is Possible” which is like Portishead on an energy drink. A personal favorite “I Believe” which wouldn’t sound out of place from a 90s house music compilation. The Italio disco vibe echoes throughout the album as well.
“Fly to You” featuring Grimes and Dido (YES, THAT DIDO) is probably the song I’m most looking forward to revisiting throughout this year. The song makes me want to run on beach either early in the morning or just as the sun is setting.
Then you have the two tracks that have been out for awhile but sound fresh again surrounded by the album. “Bunny is a Rider” (my song of the summer 2021) just never gets old with its bounce and thrill of the chase for new love. “Billions” is a fantastic album closer. It’s cinematic how she throws it all in to end the album. Even getting a choir to close out the song. It’s over the top that feels right on an album about the over the top feelings love brings.
Overall it’s a beautiful album about the power of love that never crosses over into corniness because of the sincerity behind it from Caroline Polachek. There’s a lot of trendy pop elements but it never feels like done for the sake of trendiness. It’s just the kind of music she likes.
Much like Valentines Day I can see this album being of extreme opinions. Some people are going to absolutely love this album (like me) and can see some people detesting it. But there are some people that don’t like chocolate chip cookies too so you can’t win over everyone. Luckily I’m in the former camp and have an early favorite for album of the year candidate I can revisit throughout 2023.
Happy Valentine’s Day lovers and loners. At least we have the music.